Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Winnebago, Illinois 61088
Thursday, May 12, 1994 12:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT WAS FLYING THE HELICOPTER BELOW THE TREE LINE ABOUT 30 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND WHILE FOLLOWING SOME CARS ON THE HIGHWAY. HE ATTEMPTED A SHARP PULL-UP TO AVOID SOME POWER LINES ACROSS THE HIGHWAY, BUT THE HELICOPTER STRUCK THE WIRES. THE PILOT EXECUTED AN AUTOROTATION TO A FIELD NORTH OF THE HIGHWAY. THE HELICOPTER ROLLED-OVER AFTER TOUCHDOWN.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

a wire strike due to failure to maintain proper altitude, and improper visual lookout by the pilot-in-command.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/12/1994
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1230
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City WINNEBAGO
Event State ILLINOIS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 61088
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1249 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 120
Weather Observation Facility ID RFD
Elevation of weather observation facility 736
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 12
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 5500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 160
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 908
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 12 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1415
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 11:11AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N49585
NTSB Number CHI94LA161
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BELL
Aircraft Model 206B
Aircraft Series Identifier 206B
Aircraft Serial Number 1754
Certified Max Gross Weight 3200
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 5
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 30 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 20
Airframe Hours 2795
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JIMMY JOHN'S, INC. OF URBANA
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1500 EXECUTIVE DR.
Aircraft Owner City ELGIN
Aircraft Owner State IL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 60123
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Business
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code RFD
Departure City ROCKFORD
Departure State IL
Departure Country
Departure Time 1215
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 77LL
Destination City GALENA
Destination State IL
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --